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Ironically, William Byrd found out that the Puritans and the Indians had similar religions. What were some of their shared beliefs?

User M Reza
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Final answer:

The Puritans and the Indians shared beliefs in natural rights and laws, a moral code based on the Ten Commandments, and the value of hard work and right behavior. Both cultures emphasized community well-being and cooperation.

Step-by-step explanation:

William Byrd discovered that the Puritans and the Indians shared some common religious beliefs despite their different cultural backgrounds. Both groups believed in natural rights and laws believed to be given by a higher power, a moral code of conduct akin to the Ten Commandments, and that righteous living and hard work would be rewarded.

They also had a community-centric view of society with the Puritans establishing 'praying towns' for converted Native Americans and the Native American practices of sharing the land and its proceeds within the community.

Notably, John Eliot, a Puritan missionary, made significant efforts to convert the Massachusetts natives by translating the Bible into the Algonquian language and encouraging the adoption of Puritan religious practices.

User Virmundi
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